AN INTERVIEW WITH ‘MUSICAL ARMENIA’ PERFORMERS MELIKIAN, OJAKHYAN
By Lilly Torosyan
April 17, 2013
The annual Musical Armenia concert series will take place at the
Weill Recital Hall at Carnegie Hall in New York on Fri., April 19. The
concert will feature Siberian-born violinist Nune Melikian and soprano
Narine Ojakhyan from Yerevan. The musicians recently spoke with the
Armenian Weekly about their careers, inspirations, and what’s to come.
Nune Melikian ***
Lilly Torosyan: How did you become a part of the upcoming Musical
Armenia concert?
Nune Melikian: It’s a funny story. I attended a concert last year after
accidentally seeing the post on Carnegie Hall web site. Two Armenian
artists were playing, so I could not miss it. During the break I got
acquainted with two Armenians who came from Philly, especially for
this event. In our conversation I mentioned that I am a violinist who
had just came to New York three months earlier, and they joked, “So
should we expect your recital here next year?” I promised them I would.
Some time later, I remembered this conversation and decided to send my
DVD to the committee. I had been anticipating receiving the results of
the preliminary audition for more than three months. I was chosen. So,
involuntarily, I kept my promise, which was given so light-heartily!
And one of the acquaintances from last year’s concert is actually
coming from L.A. to attend the concert.
Narine Ojakhyan: I usually have several auditions that I apply to for
a season. This season, Musical Armenia was one of them, and I am very
pleased and excited to be part of it.
LT: When did you realize that you wanted to pursue your musical
dreams professionally?
NM: I have been playing the violin since I was six and the piano
since I was four. My older sister was a pianist and my mom was always
bringing me with her to school. Every time my sister took her music out
of her bags, I would play the piano without even knowing the notes. The
professor once said to my mother, “I am not sure about Kariné,
but your younger daughter is definitely going to be a musician.”
So we started piano lessons, but when I heard the violin sound, I
said to my parents that I wanted to only play that instrument. And
once I started violin, I never even thought that I could be anybody
else but a musician. I still remember saying to my classmates that
one day I will be a very successful violinist. I was six years old.
My sister finished music college with excellent marks, and later
became a great dentist. So the professor in Siberia was right!
NO: I was born into a very musical family. My inspiration comes
from my mother, who had a very beautiful voice, and my aunt, Rebecca
Ojakhyan, who is a well-known opera singer and has sang for 25 years
in the Armenian National Academic Opera Theater. As a little girl,
I listened to classics such as “Anoush,” “La Boheme,” and “Chio-Chio
San” from “Madama Butterfly.” I dreamt of one day being on that same
stage myself. Luckily, it was not just a dream. I started to sing
from very young age and it was clear that I would grow up to become
a future opera singer.
Narine Ojakhyan
LT: Which artists have influenced and inspired you?
NM: It’s impossible to say. For me, music has no limits, edges, or
borders. Every composer is unique, and every piece is beautiful in
its own way. I just adore music in general. I am in awe of Palestrina,
J.S. Bach, W.A. Mozart, L.W. Beethoven, F. Schubert, F. Chopin, R.
Schumann, J. Brahms, S. Rachmaninoff, S. Prokofiev, P. Tchaikovsky,
and many, many others. Speaking about Armenian composers, it’s A.
Khachaturian, A. Babajanian, and of course, Sayat Nova and Komitas.
My first violin teacher gave me a book about Russian violinist Leonid
Kogan. I read it over and over again as a little girl, and listened to
all of his recordings on vinyl. Another violinist, David Oistrakh, is
hard not to admire. When I became older, I discovered the genius of Y.
Menuhin, I. Stern, and H. Szeryng.
My former teacher in Montreal is Vladimir Landsman. He’s know to a
limited circle of musicians, but is a legendary violinist. I think,
for example, his interpretation of Franck’s Violin Sonata is one of the
best ever recorded.â~@¨I have to mention Maxim Vengerov, who I first
met when I was nine years old at a concert where we were both playing.
After seeing him and listening to his playing, I was totally blown
away by this personality. When I got the chance to work with him a
few years ago, I was happy–it was challenging.
I am really lucky to be a student of Albert Markov. He’s a great
violinist, teacher, musician, and person. He gives me strength
by his own example. He teaches me to be free from violin clichés,
established opinions, and prejudgments, while knowing the borders. He
encourages me to think big. I also admire the Markovs’ playing–both
father and son. There must be something in their genes because both
of them are excellent violinists!
NO: The first artists that made me fall in love with singing were
the incredibly beautiful voices of my mother and aunt. Of course,
advancing to a professional career, many singers became inspirational.
My favorites are Mirella Freni and the late Beverly Sills, from whom
I have also learned a lot.
LT: How does your daily schedule look when you’re preparing to perform?
NM: It all depends on what kind of performance it is. Since I live far
away from my family, it’s not always possible to be prepared beforehand
for everything, so usually the week or so before a performance is full
of rehearsals, late-night practicing, organizing, and anticipation
and excitement. I stay concentrated, by trying not to waste my time
on any kind of entertainment. I also do a lot of jogging. It helps
relieve the stress.
NO: It depends on what I am preparing; if it is a role in the opera,
my daily regimen takes much longer and it requires much more work than,
say, preparing for a concert. I usually allot myself a few hours to
do all of my daily detailed preparation.
LT: What has been your most memorable experience professionally?
NM: It’s hard to say–there are so many of them. One time, I was
preparing for the Sibelius Violin concerto with only a week to go
before the university Concerto Competition. There was a strike in
the university, and I could not hire a piano accompanist, nor did I
know anyone who could help me out. So besides learning two and three
movements from zero in six days, I had to remember all the tutti
part without actually hearing it. I was sure I would not pass the
preliminary round, but I did. The next morning, I was holding the
music before going on stage, in an attempt to memorize the last bars.
I remember a huge empty hall at 9:30 a.m., with the jury somewhere on
the balcony. I was alone on the stage with 30 minutes of music to play.
It was the first time in the competition’s 60-year history that
somebody ever did it without accompaniment. I became one of the
prize-winners.
NO: Each performance is unique. Each audience gives you a different
warmth and energy to take home. Every experience teaches you something
valuable, so for that reason, every experience for me is memorable. I
think that is one of the reasons that we performers are in love with
what we do.
LT: What are your plans after the Musical Armenia concert?
NM: As of now, I am planning to have one more recital in the W.M.P.
Concert Hall in New York before heading to Canada and Europe for the
summer to participate in festivals, performances, master-classes,
and prepare for different competitions and concerts. In the fall, I
am going to have a series of recitals in Canada with amazing Canadian
musicians. Some of them are going to be Armenian concerts. I also
have engagements in Boston, Moscow, and Yerevan.
However, instead of telling you my upcoming plans, maybe I should
just promise recitals in the Stern Auditorium, Albert Hall, and the
Concertgebouw, with the best orchestras and musicians of out time?
Because, you see, it all can come true one day.
NO: At the moment, I am also preparing for the role of Mimi in “La
Boheme” at the Bronx Opera, which will be running in May. Besides that,
there are my usual auditions and upcoming concerts.
The Musical Armenia concert is presented by the Eastern Prelacy of
the Armenian Apostolic Church and the Prelacy Ladies’ Guild. Tickets
may be purchased through the Carnegie Hall Box Office.
From: A. Papazian